Peanut Butter Granola

May 15, 2013 by

Peanut Butter Granola

When I was younger my absolute favorite cereal was Reese’s Puffs. Seriously so good. And I couldn’t even tell you the last time I had them, it’s been like 15 years, at least. I just cannot buy them. First, they are loaded with sugar, but second and more importantly, I will eat the whole box in like 1 day. I’m not even kidding.

Peanut Butter Granola

If there is anyway to incorporate peanut butter into my breakfast, I am all about it! This peanut butter granola is perfect over some vanilla yogurt or with some milk. And of course you have throw in some mini chocolate chips because peanut butter and chocolate is the best thing ever.

Oh, and as you can see from my photos, I like the big chunks of granola. You know the biggest chunks are the best ones. Don’t even try to tell me they’re not!

Peanut Butter Granola

Print
Peanut Butter Granola

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 13 minutes

Yield: About 8-10 servings

Serving Size: roughly 1/4 cup

Ingredients

  • 2 cups oats
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/4 cup honey
    • optional:
  • sliced almonds
  • raisins
  • dried fruit

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
  2. In a microwave-safe bowl, stir in the peanut butter and the honey and heat tor about 30 seconds until the peanut butter and the honey are melted. Remove from the microwave and stir together. Mix in the oats until they are all well-coated with the peanut butter and honey mixture.
  3. Spread evenly onto the baking sheet and bake for about 5 minutes. If your oven tends to cook things more quickly, I recommend stirring the granola about halfway through. Remove from the oven and let the granola cool completely. Once cooled, break the larger chunks into smaller bite-sized pieces. Store in an air-tight container.
http://eat-drink-love.com/2013/05/peanut-butter-granola/

Peanut Butter Granola
Filed Under: Breakfast, Kid-Friendly, Snacks · Tagged With: , , , , , , 16 Comments

Grapefruit Brûlée

March 8, 2013 by

Grapefruit Brûlée

Citrus, citrus, citrus. I can’t get enough right now and I think that this grapefruit brûlée might be one of my new favorite treats!

Grapefruit Brûlée

Yet again, you can tell my mind is ready for spring and summer foods. While good ol’ crème brûlée is one of my most favorite desserts of all time sometimes ya just gotta have something a little lighter. This grapefruit brûlée is stupid easy to make. The hardest part is segmenting the grapefruit. Other than that all you need is your kitchen torch, brown sugar, and a little whipped cream! I took the time to segment my grapefruit, but if you do not want to do that, you can just cut one in half and prepare it that way, but I like being able to actually eat the slices instead of digging a spoon in and squirting grapefruit juice all over the place and making a huge mess which is basically what happens to me every time I eat a grapefruit.

This dessert is refreshing with just the right amount of sweetness! I think this dessert would also work nicely with pineapples if you want to use that instead or in combination to the grapefruit.

Grapefruit Brûlée

Print
Grapefruit Brûlée

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients

  • 1 medium sized grapefruit, peeled and segmented
  • 1 tbs. light brown sugar
  • whipped cream or Greek yogurt
  • ground cinnamon (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Peel and segment your grapefruit and layer the slices onto a small bowl or creme brulee dish.
  2. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the top of the slices.
  3. Using a kitchen torch, burn the brown sugar until it caramelizes.
  4. Scoop a dollop of whipped cream or Greek yogurt on top and sprinkle some cinnamon on top for garnish and serve immediately.

Notes

If you do not own a kitchen torch, you can use your broiler. Just place the slices into oven-safe dishes.

If you decide that you do not want to worry about peeling and segmenting the grapefruit, you can cut it half and it will serve two people.

http://eat-drink-love.com/2013/03/grapefruit-brulee/

Grapefruit Brûlée
Filed Under: Desserts, Low-Carb, Low-Fat · Tagged With: , , , , , , 16 Comments

Purple Monster Smoothie

January 22, 2013 by

Purple Monster Smoothie

There is something about winter time that just winter that makes us eat less fruits and veggies. Most fruits are consumed in the form of pie and cookies. Not totally a bad thing, but you know, not so great either.

I have been trying to eat more fruits and veggies since the holidays, but I know it’s still not enough so I have been trying to get more in though smoothies.

Purple Monster Smoothie

The first time I made a green smoothie years ago, I kind of wanted to barf. To mask out the taste of spinach, I used only an apple and maybe some pear and it just didn’t do it for me. After lots of tweaking, I came to realize that I was just not a green smoothie kind of gal.

Purple Monster Smoothie

So, what kind of gal am I? A purple monster smoothie gal (or a purplish brownish one, whatevs). I like berries in my smoothies. I’m okay with that.

Purple Monster Smoothie

Print
Purple Monster Smoothie

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 1 smoothie

Ingredients

  • 1 small banana, sliced
  • 2 cups fresh baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup plain non-fat yogurt (regular or Greek)
  • 1 cup frozen berries (I used mixed berries)
  • 1 tbs. chia seeds (optional)
  • orange juice or water to thin the smoothie out, if needed

Instructions

  1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Notes

Feel free to experiment with this smoothie. You can also use pineapple and/or apple if you don't want to use the banana.

http://eat-drink-love.com/2013/01/purple-monster-smoothie/

Purple Monster Smoothie
Filed Under: Breakfast, Drinks, Kid-Friendly, Low-Fat, Snacks · Tagged With: , , , , , , , , 16 Comments

Overnight Oats

March 14, 2012 by

You know what sucks? When your internet stops working.

Yeah, it really stinks. It’s like I have no idea what to do with myself. Between grad school and blogging, I should have my laptop surgically attached to my body! Our modem has been acting up at home lately and finally yesterday, it just decided to stop working. WAHHHH!! What will I do with myself when I get home from work later today?! Can’t do bloggy things, can’t shop, can’t find more articles for my dissertation, can’t read all of the latest celebrity gossip. Yes my friends, my life is so exciting. I know you’re jealous. I guess until it’s fixed, I will just cook, watch even more garbage tv than I usually do, and maybe read a book (remember those things?!).

But, while I do have access at work and have a few extra minutes, I am going to share my latest breakfast obsession with you. When it comes to breakfast, I MUST have it every morning. Like for real. I HAVE to have breakfast. And during the week especially, I usually just want a bowl of cold cereal. I freaking love cereal. I crave a bowl of cereal every morning. And while I do enjoy oatmeal, it has that whole hot thing going on so it’s not always what I am craving.

Enter overnight oats. Overnight oats are basically oats soaked in milk and/or yogurt overnight in the fridge and come morning, you have a bowl of deliciousness waiting for you. Overnight oats are an acquired taste for some given the fact they are a cold and the texture is different than hot oatmeal, but I find that with a little tweaking, you can find a recipe that you will enjoy. Come morning, all you have to do is mix in your favorite toppings. Overnight oats are so insanely easy to make and it’s barely a recipe because really, what you mix in with your oats is totally up to you! I am giving you my basic recipe, but the oats, the milk, and the yogurt are your base and from there, the possibilities are endless!

Print
Overnight Oats

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Serving Size: 1

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 1/3 cup skim milk (can also use soy or almond milk)
  • 3/4 cup regular or greek yogurt (plain or flavored)
  • 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 tbs. nut butter
  • 1 tbs. honey
  • fruit of your choice

Instructions

  1. Combine the oats, milk, yogurt, salt, and cinnamon in a bowl and mix together until well-blended. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  2. Stir in the honey and nut butter. Mix in or top with fruit of your choice! If the oats seem too thick, add more milk. If they are too liquidy, then add less milk the night before.

Notes

Other suggested mix-ins: nutella, chia seeds, flax seeds, brown sugar, sugar (or sugar substitute), agave nectar, graham crackers, chocolate syrup,

http://eat-drink-love.com/2012/03/overnight-oats/
Filed Under: Breakfast, Low-Fat, Low-Sugar/Sugar-Free · Tagged With: , , , , , , 20 Comments